January, 2011

More pro-life billboards in Milwaukee

  • January 28, 2011
  • By:

As we continue to offer pro-life, healthy, family-oriented alternatives to abortion, we will once again be running pro-life billboards in the city of Milwaukee. The billboards (above) connect women to a 24-hour crisis pregnancy counseling hotline.

Starting Monday, January 31, the above billboard can be found at the intersection of Wisconsin Avenue & 27th Street and the intersection of North Avenue & 17th Street. The billboards will be at these locations for a month and will be in different spots in Milwaukee every month. Both billboards are intentionally located near Planned Parenthoods.

Last year, more than 400 women in Milwaukee called the hotline for crisis pregnancy help. Imagine that — 400 babies saved through a billboard! We’re excited for what this year will bring.

2011 March for Life: An overwhelming success

  • January 25, 2011
  • By:

Photo, above: An estimated crowd of 400,000 participated in the March for Life. The crowd grew and grew for two hours.

Every year, the March for Life gets bigger and bigger. And Wisconsin continues to be well-represented! Pro-Life Wisconsin also held affiliate observances of Roe v. Wade around the state on January 22.

Approximately 16 buses from around Wisconsin traveled to Washington, DC for the March. Many carloads of people drove separately, and dozens of students from several Milwaukee-area colleges and high schools flew out.Fr. Mark Carr led a group of Milwaukee students from Marquette University High School and Divine Saviour Holy Angels schools. Read an article about that here.

Read an article about the Vigil for Life Mass, held the night before the March, here.

Rep. Sean Duffy and Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner both spoke to a packed crowd in the National Mall before the March kicked off. Read an article about the speeches from LifeSiteNews here.

After the rally, Rep. Duffy held a pro-life reception for people from Wisconsin at his office. Hundreds of people turned out to visit Duffy’s office.

Photo, below, l-r: Peggy Hamill, Virginia Zignego, Rep. Duffy and Bobby Hamill, Peggy’s son and a staffer in Duffy’s office.

Final listing of affiliate observances of Roe v. Wade

  • January 21, 2011
  • By:

Above: Pro-Life Wisconsin at the March for Life in Washington, D.C.

January 22, 2011 will mark the 38th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decision that decriminalized abortion. More than 53.5 million lives in the United States have been lost because of abortion, a casualty that continues to grow daily.

While hundreds of thousands of pro-lifers descend on Washington, D.C. in protest of Roe v. Wade, Pro-Life Wisconsin affiliates throughout Wisconsin have local events occurring to mark January 22.

In addition to the planned affiliate events, two buses with over one hundred representatives of Pro-Life Wisconsin will leave Friday, January 21 as part of Pro-Life Wisconsin’s annual pilgrimage to the March for Life in Washington, D.C. There they will join an estimated crowd of 350,000 pro-life activists from across the country in what has become one of the nation’s largest marches for social reform.

The impact of Roe v. Wade in Wisconsin has resulted in more than 500,000 babies killed through elective abortion. Abortions, especially chemical abortions, are on the rise in our state; abortion is a tragedy, happening in communities every day in Wisconsin.

The following are planned PLW affiliate events for the 38th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. Join us if you can!:

PLW Jefferson County: Watertown Pro-Life Group is holding a Roe v. Wade Memorial Event on Saturday, Jan. 22 at St. Henry’s Catholic Church, 412 N. Fourth Street, Watertown. Fr. Brian Wilk will celebrate Mass at 8:30 am, followed by 1 hour Eucharistic Adoration & Benediction.

PLW Winnebago County and Outagamie County: Prayer Vigil on Saturday, Jan. 22 at 10 am. at Planned Parenthood, located at 3800 Gillett St., Grand Chute.

PLW Marathon County: Pro-Life Rally at St. Mary’s Oratory, 325 Grand Ave, Wausau, Sunday, January 23. Outside Rally begins after Mass at 11 a.m. with prayer services inside and outside.

PLW Juneau County: The Juneau County March for Life will be held Thursday, Jan. 20 at 6 p.m. It starts at the Juneau County Courthouse. The 38 minute Prayer-March will be followed by Prayer, Speakers and Reception at the First Baptist Church, 148 Grayside Ave., Mauston.

PLW Bayfield County: On January 22, Pro-Life Wisconsin-Bayfield County will hold prayers for all nascent human life at St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church after the 4 p.m. Mass.

PLW Crawford County: Cenacles of Life will observe Roe v. Wade with the Divine Mercy Chaplet, three Rosaries and Fasting on Friday, Jan. 21 at 3 p.m. at St. John’s in Prairie du Chien, 710 S Wacouta Ave. PLW-Crawford County will also hold a prayer vigil from 10:30-11:30 a.m. at Options in Prairie du Chien (103 N Wacouta Ave, Prairie du Chien, WI 53821) on Saturday, January 22.

PLW St. Croix County: Prayer Service for Life, January 22, Saturday, Cathedral of St. Paul, St. Paul, MN, 10:30-11:30. Immediately after the Prayer Service for Life, we will promote the culture of life by walking to the St. Paul State Capitol to listen to speakers and participate in other public events. Please call Darla Meyers at (715) 386-1089 for carpooling information. We will depart from the St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Hudson, parking lot at 9:30 a.m. January 22.

PLW Rock County will join the Rockford Pro-Life Group on Jan. 21 at 7:30 a.m. at Rockford’s Abortion Mill, 1400 Broadway, Rockford, Ill. On Saturday Jan. 22, PLW Rock County will hold prayers in the South Beloit Adoration Chapel, 11 a.m. to noon.

Vigil for Life of Madison: Prayer vigil at Planned Parenthood, Saturday Jan. 22 at 1 p.m. Planned Parenthood, 3706 Orin Rd., Madison. Father William Vernon, from the Diocese of Madison, will lead prayers.

PLW Kenosha County will hold a prayer vigil on Saturday, Jan. 22 at 11 a.m. in front of Planned Parenthood, 3601 Roosevelt Rd., Kenosha.
PLW Hayward County: Queen of Peace, Protector of Life will participate in two pro-life Masses at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 10586 Dakota Ave., Hayward. The 4pm Mass on Saturday, Jan. 22 and the 10am Mass on Sunday, Jan. 23 will have special pro-life prayers said and pro-life information will be distributed to the congregation.

PLW Milwaukee County will observe Roe v. Wade with prayer and sidewalk counseling at Affiliated Medical Services in Milwaukee on Saturday, Jan. 22.

Bishop David Ricken of Green Bay visits, blesses crisis pregnancy centers in Appleton

  • January 19, 2011
  • By:

Photo: Bishop Ricken with an ultrasound and a nurse. Photo credit: MUBC.

On January 18, Bishop David Ricken of the Diocese of Green Bay, visited the offices of Mother & Unborn Baby Care and WomanKind Medical Clinic in Appleton. Bishop Ricken blessed both offices, all of the rooms and visited with the staff.

The crisis pregnancy centers serve hundreds of women every year and are located directly across the street from Planned Parenthood.

As Jill Stanek noted in her weekly WND column, “Over 1.9 million American women take advantage of these services [offered by crisis pregnancy centers] each year.”

Bishop Ricken will be attending the March for Life in Washington DC and celebrating the Vigil Mass on Sunday January 23, held at the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception the evening before the March. Keep an eye out for Bishop Ricken and the rest of the Wisconsin contingent!

Wisconsin’s abortion facilities not subject to health inspections

  • January 19, 2011
  • By:

An open records request conducted by Pro-Life Wisconsin has revealed the state’s abortion facilities are not inspected by the Department of Health Services and no records exist of any such past inspections. Furthermore, there is no state statute mandating health inspections of the state’s abortuaries.

January 22 marks the 38th anniversary of Roe v. Wade and a death toll of 53.5 million babies aborted nationwide.  Abortion may be legal, but here in Wisconsin, it is neither safe nor rare. We have seen women rushed by ambulance to a hospital after botched abortions. We know women who have committed suicide after having an abortion. Abortion hurts women!

By contrast, all restaurants in Wisconsin receive a health inspection at least once per year.

Whether a facility heals or kills, there are standards of care that must be adhered to. It is unbelievable that abortion facilities do not receive even the scrutiny that a fast food restaurant does. At the end of the day, the state of Wisconsin and the health department are responsible for the health of the public.

This morning, news services across the country reported the horrifying circumstances surrounding a Philadelphia abortionist’s practice:

An abortion doctor who catered to minorities, immigrants and poor women was charged with eight counts of murder in the deaths of a patient and seven babies who were born alive and then killed with scissors, prosecutors said Wednesday… Patients were subjected to squalid and barbaric conditions at Gosnell’s Women’s Medical Society.

Makes you wonder what all Wisconsin’s abortion facilities have to hide. So much for safety.

From a 2006 WND article: Recent investigations at abortion clinics in several states have shown that such businesses are not just a danger to unbornchildren, but also to the immediate health and welfare of the mothers that enter their doors. In the past two months, Alabama’s health department has shut down two of the state’s 10 abortion clinics for health code violations and Florida’s health department has shut down five.

In Arizona, “In 1999 a bill was passed to regulate abortion clinics.  Before the law could take effect, a lawsuit was filed that “stayed” the regulation of abortion clinics until a settlement agreement could be finalized with the Department and the plaintiffs.  Last year the settlement agreement was finalized and the Department was able to write rules for the regulation of abortion clinics. The new rules are complete and have been filed with the Secretary of State’s office; they go into effect on November 1, 2010.”

January 21: “Ask what they mean about choice day”

  • January 18, 2011
  • By:

Many thanks to Jill Stanek for organizing this!

From Jill Stanek:

When NARAL announced a “Blog for Choice Day,” to be held this Friday, January 21, my blood boiled.

How dare they celebrate the upcoming 38th anniversary of the infamous Roe v. Wade decision with their ambiguous claptrap.

Over 50 million babies have been killed in America since that terrible day, most certainly nothing to cheer about, unless you’re in Rome at the Colosseum perhaps.

So pro-life bloggers are banding together to sponsor a counter “Ask them what they mean when they say ‘Choice’ Blog Day” on the same day, January 21.

We’re also encouraging all pro-lifers on Twitter and Facebook to participate.

The idea is simple. Any time any of us reads pro-aborts spouting their obscure “choice” rhetoric on a blog, website, Facebook, orTwitter, we call them out on it. We ask them to explain what the “choice” is.

Is it to eat carrots rather than broccoli? To wear red instead of blue? No, of course “choice” is code for killing babies. What’s their problem with the A-word?

Yes, this is a shameless scheme to suck oxygen out of the pro-aborts’ social media universe, to deny them any time whatsoever to support abortion without defending it.

Co-sponsors thus far…

Accepting Abundance
The Center for Women of Faith in Culture
LifeNews.com (Steve Ertelt)
LiveAction.org (Lila Rose)
ProLifeBlogs.com
Pro-Life in TN (Susie Allen)
Pro-Life Wisconsin
SecularProLife.org
Star-Studded Super Step (Andy Moore in New Zealand)
The Suzy B Blog (Susan B. Anthony List)

Check out Pro-Life Wisconsin on Twitter, Facebook, our blog or our website!

Wisconsin receives C- from NARAL on ability to abort children

  • January 18, 2011
  • By:

From Jill Stanek:
Here’s one time when we hope for a bad grade, an “F” in NARAL’s annual state report cards and ranking.

NARAL has just released its 20th annual report, Who Decides? The Status of Women’s Reproductive Rights in the United States, and I’m happy to announce 19 states got Fs this year. Taking reverse first place would be North Dakota, ranked 50th!

On the other end – bummer – NARAL gave As to 16 states, A+ even to California and Washington, ranked 1 and 2 respectively.

Reporting on Who Decides?, Womensenews.org quoted NARAL policy director Donna Crane as predicting “2011 will be a banner year for anti-choice legislation in the states,” anticipating a “deluge” of pro-life legislation due to the shifting state legislatures. We can only hope.

From BadgerCatholic:

The Good:

Abortion Bans: Wisconsin has unconstitutional and unenforceable criminal bans on abortion. Details »

Biased Counseling & Mandatory Delay: Wisconsin law subjects women seeking abortion services to biased-counseling requirements and mandatory delays. Details »

Counseling Ban/Gag Rule:  Wisconsin prohibits certain state employees and organizations receiving state funds from counseling or referring women for abortion services. Details »

Insurance Prohibition for Abortion: Wisconsin restricts insurance coverage of abortion for some individuals. Details »

Refusal to Provide Medical Services: Wisconsin allows certain individuals or entities to refuse to provide women specific reproductive-health services, information, or referrals. Details »

Restrictions on Low-Income Women’s Access to Abortion: Wisconsin restricts low-income women’s access to abortion. Details »

Restrictions on Young Women’s Access to Abortion: Wisconsin law restricts young women’s access to abortion services by mandating parental consent. Details »

Targeted Regulation of Abortion Providers (TRAP): Wisconsin subjects abortion providers to burdensome restrictions not applied to other medical professionals. Details »

The Bad:

Contraceptive Equity: Wisconsin law requires health-insurance plans that cover prescription medication and employers that provide insurance coverage for prescription medication to provide the same coverage for contraception.Details »

Emergency Contraception: Wisconsin law improves women’s access to emergency contraception (EC). Details »

Guaranteed Access to Prescriptions: Wisconsin guarantees that women’s birth-control prescriptions will be filled. Details »

Low-Income Women’s Access to Family Planning: Wisconsin provides certain low-income women increased coverage for Medicaid-funded family-planning services. Details »

Protection Against Clinic Violence:  Wisconsin law protects women seeking reproductive-health care and medical personnel from blockades and violence. Details »

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Rally for Life in Milwaukee

  • January 17, 2011
  • By:

Nearly 100 people joined Pro-Life Wisconsin for our annual Rally for Life, held in Milwaukee the week before Roe v. Wade. Thank you to all those who braved the cold (see photo, above) and those who kept us in prayer. Thanks to 40 Days for Life-Milwaukee for providing pancakes for us at St. Rita’s! It was especially encouraging to see a number of families and youth turn out in opposition to abortion.

Sidewalk counselors had two possible saves on Friday in Milwaukee, and we ask that you keep the mothers, their babies and our sidewalk counselors in your prayers.

“Luckily for abortion providers, after decades of Communist rule, the Chinese don’t believe the preborn have a right to life”

  • January 14, 2011
  • By:

The leaf-strewn median on Eternal Peace Road hides a grim secret: Numerous tiny fetuses lie in unmarked graves dug by women from the abortion clinic across the street.

That quote is from an Associated Press article in today’s Washington Times. The article discussed the increasing abortion rate in China among young, single women.

Abortion has been legal in China since the 1950s. When China instituted its one-child policy, with that came forced abortions and mandatory sterilizations, “In 1983 alone, China sterilized 21 million people and fitted 17.8 million women with intrauterine devices.” As the UK Sunday Times reported in 2010, those sterilizations often occur en masse, at the hand of the Chinese government, regardless of whether couples/women want to sterilized [but what about the "woman's choice?"]

The AP interviewed a Beijing sociologist, Li Yinhe, for the article.  Yinhe [it is entirely plausible Yinhe works for the Chinese government, which has a vested interest in protecting its one-child policy and defending its coercive activities] makes a number of insinuations that don’t line up from what pro-lifers know about the country. Our comments below, in bold.

“Luckily [really? for who?], in Chinese culture, people generally feel that before the actual birth, you don’t yet have an actual person, so we have cases of induced abortion at seven and eight months along,” Ms. Li said. “I think this is to China’s advantage from a population control point of view [that if people are desensitized long enough, eventually they will fall in line?] … . China has absolutely no need for the so-called ‘right to life’ argument [I bet the women who are dragged in for forced abortions would disagree with that], no need to introduce ideas about abortion as murder [so... what is it?], and so on.”

China’s few anti-abortion campaigners are usually Buddhists or Christians [is a Communist government seriously going to provide figures on pro-life activity?]. But their activities are low-key because the government keeps a tight rein on grass-roots organizations and religious groups [and the few who dare to protest wind up dead].

In January 2008, the London Telegraph reported on a Chinese woman who sued [wonder if she's still alive?] due to a forced abortion at nine months pregnant:

“Mrs. Jin’s crime was to have become pregnant by her fiance five months before she married him at the age of 20, the legal minimum… Mrs. Jin is now infertile as a result of the abortion.”

In October 2010, Al-Jazeera (yes, THAT Al-Jazeera) sent a reporter to China. They heard reports of a woman, eight months pregnant with her second child, forced to have an abortion by the Chinese government. Read the husband’s heart-wrenching account of the loss of their baby here.

Despite decades of Communist rule, the God-given human desire to procreate lives on with the Chinese people. The Chinese government’s effort to extinguish its own people — cultural genocide — is resulting in a graying population that will not be able to support itself. From TIME magazine in 2009,

“China has 32 million more boys than girls under the age of 20. The total number of young people is a problem as well; factories have reported youth-labor shortages in recent years, a problem that will only get worse. In 2007 there were six adults of working age for every retiree, but by 2040 that ratio is expected to drop to 2 to 1.”

When they are of no use to society, will the bodies of the elderly be discarded along the side of the road, next to their aborted grandchildren?

If the Chinese do not respect the preborn right-to-life, as the sociologist Yinhe claims, why would the mothers save the bodies of their aborted children to bury?

Nine consecutive days of prayer at Madison Planned Parenthood

  • January 14, 2011
  • By:

Photo, above: Fr. Heilman leading more than 150 pro-lifers in the Stations of the Cross outside Planned Parenthood this summer.

Starting this morning at 6:30am, and every morning until the anniversary of Roe v. Wade on January 22, Fr. Rick Heilman and the Knights of Divine Mercy will be leading the Stations of the Cross at the Madison Planned Parenthood, located at 3706 Orin Road. This Planned Parenthood is one of Wisconsin’s four stand-alone abortion facilities. It is also the site of abortionist Dennis Christensen’s former abortuary, before he sold his “practice” to Planned Parenthood. Click here to read more about the effort on the Knights of Divine Mercy website. Join them if you can! If you can’t join them in body, join them in a novena of reparation leading up to Roe v. Wade. If you know Fr. Heilman or any of the Knights, please take the time to thank them personally. Priests have many demands on their time, and it’s cold out there!

1 of 2
12